Joe Amodei

Spurlock set to deliver four docs to Arts Alliance

Leadership: When Hart Sharp Entertainment folded earlier this year, the future looked shaky for one of its investment holdings, Hart Sharp Video.

But Amodei believed that his DVD company’s reputation, — which was highlighted by the $15 million generated in “Super Size Me” disc sales — would help it score new funding.

In May, Hart Sharp Video was scooped up by the U.K.’s Arts Alliance Media, which craved the company’s 175-film catalog. That library will soon get even bigger, with “Super Size Me” helmer Morgan Spurlock set to deliver to Arts Alliance four new documentaries, including the school-themed “Chalk,” on DVD this fall.

Flush with new backing, Arts Alliance is expecting to increase its output of docs and sports-related releases by 50% in 2008. The company also projects its revenue to reach $20 million this year.

Additionally, Amodei hopes to co-produce more projects. Already in the pipeline is “One Part Sugar,” a comedy starring “Nip/Tuck’s” Dylan Walsh.

POV: “I am a lucky man,” Amodei says. “I have a loyal staff and a group of (retail) customers who have stood by me and this company through some very dark times. I can only thank them for not giving up on Hart Sharp. We are looking to create a company that continues to be a traditional DVD distributor but will also take on all rights to the films that we purchase. All that we did before was DVD; now this means digital, TV and international distribution.”